Summary & Overview
HCPCS C2698: Brachytherapy Stranded Source, Per Source
HCPCS Level II code C2698 designates a stranded brachytherapy radioactive source billed per individual source. Brachytherapy sources are critical consumables in radiation oncology for intracavitary and interstitial treatments used across cancer care. Precise coding of these supplies affects claims processing, inventory accounting, and clinical documentation.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a national perspective on how this supply code is classified, its typical clinical settings, and the implications for billing lines and reimbursement workflows. The analysis outlines benchmark considerations, payer coverage patterns, and coding practice notes relevant to radiation oncology services that use stranded sources.
This publication provides an operational summary for revenue cycle and clinical teams: what the code represents, where it is used, common billing contexts, and which payers to consider when assessing coverage and claims adjudication. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable. The content is intended for a national audience of health system billing managers, radiation oncology administrators, and policy analysts.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C2698 describes a brachytherapy source, stranded, not otherwise specified, billed per source. This itemized supply code covers individual stranded radioactive sources used in brachytherapy procedures.
Service type: Brachytherapy supply — radioactive source placement
Typical site of service: Radiation oncology departments, hospital outpatient departments, and specialized brachytherapy suites where intracavitary or interstitial radiation sources are implanted or placed.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult undergoing interstitial brachytherapy for carcinoma of a pelvic or head/neck site where stranded radioactive sources are implanted in a linear/array configuration. The patient often presents after multidisciplinary tumor-board review with a treatment plan that specifies high-dose-rate or low-dose-rate brachytherapy using stranded seeds to maintain spatial geometry and minimize migration. On the day of implantation the patient is evaluated in the procedure suite or operating room by the radiation oncologist and surgical team; anesthesia may be general, monitored anesthesia care, or regional depending on location and complexity. Under image guidance (ultrasound, CT, or fluoroscopy) the radiation oncologist implants multiple stranded sources delivered as preloaded flexible carrier strands; each source is billed as C2698 per source. Post-implant imaging is obtained to confirm placement and dosimetry. Typical sites of service include the hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgery center, or procedural suite within a radiation oncology clinic. The patient receives post-procedure recovery and instruction for activity restrictions and follow-up dosimetric assessment and oncology visits.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Default; no modifier | Used when no other modifier applies to the service |